Medina Section

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Findley State Park Winter Hike M D Edmonds

Supervisor: Pat Hayes

55.9 Total Miles / 19.4 Off Road Miles (35%)
Map Publication Date: January 2017

This section begins south of Wellington on State Route 58 at Findley State Park and proceeds on footpath through the park. While much of the trail that follows lies on roads in a relatively flat, rural landscape, the trail crosses Spencer Lake on a causeway within Spencer Lake Wildlife Area, goes by Letha House Park (Medina County Park District), follows Lester Rail-Trail (Medina County Park District), enters the City of Medina and goes around Medina Public Square. Before exiting the city, the trail follows the Champion Creek Trail (City of Medina Park) and crosses Lake Medina Park (Medina County Park District).

The trail once again follows rural roads through rolling country-side. The trail leaves roads to cross through both Hinckley Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks), where it passes close by the famous Buzzard’s Roost and climbs through the rugged Whipp’s Ledges, and Richfield Heritage Preserve (formerly Camp Crowell Hilaka, now part of Richfield Joint Recreational District). The trail from the Medina Section ends in the Brecksville Reservation (Cleveland Metroparks) where it joins with Buckeye Trail from the Akron and Bedford Sections near Deer Lick Cave.

Trail Alerts

  • (8/13/25) Trail Closure between Medina Points 19 and 21 in Hinckley Reservation.

    Dredging operations in Hinckley Lake have caused the Hinckley Lake Trail (which the BT uses), to close from 6:00AM to 5:00PM on Mondays through Fridays. The West Dr and the All-Purpose Trail are also closed during the same hours which eliminates access to Pt. 20. If you plan to hike the trail during those hours, the detour below avoids the construction operations.

    This alert applies to all BTA map products. No date was provided for the anticipated end of the dredging.

    Detour:

    Point 19: Kellogg Rd (T180) at Picnic Area (P, PT).

    Enter Hinckley Reservation, a unit of Cleveland MetroParks (CMP). Go NE on footpath across small bridge. After 250', trail joins drive heading E. After 300', driveway turns N. Join the Carriage Trail gong SE. After 0.45 mi, pass another bridle trail (exits N). Finally, ford a permanent stream (0.6 mi). After just 70', reach a 3-way trail junction. Continue to follow the Carriage Trail, that heads SW (at first) and passes trails leading to Ledge Lake and to Worden’s Trailhead and in another0.45 mi reach a sharp turn in the trail. Exit the Carriage Trail and follow the trail that goes E towards the Brooklyn Exchange Cabin. Join a road, pass the cabin and reach State Rd.

    Head N along State Rd on the berm, cross West Dr, and shortly re-join the BT at the All Purpose Trail. Just ahead is Point 21, State Rd (C44) Bridge over East Branch of Rocky R (P). Continue on as described in your BTA map product.
  • (5/6/25) Medina Section trail alert Pts 12-13.

    The Medina County Courthouse on the east side of the square in the center of Medina City, is undergoing exterior construction which blocks the sidewalk and the BT that passes along the front of the courthouse. The detour described below is short:

    After reaching Court St on the NW corner of Medina Square, continue 1 block E along Liberty, to Broadway. Do not cross Broadway, but instead cross Liberty to the S. After 1 block, first cross Washington going S and immediately cross Broadway to the E. Rejoin the BT as it follows Broadway S to reach Champion Creek Trail at Pt 13.

Map Updates

  • (8/17/25) The BT has changed between Pts 25 and 27 due to a reroute through Richfield Heritage Preserve (RHP). The trail change was requested by the RHP Board to move the trail off the roads and through a wooded area. As a result of the change, Pt 26 has moved from its current location near the Lodge to a location about 300’ NW. The length of the trail in the Medina Section increases by 0.3 mi. For CW distances, add 0.3 mi to the miles from Pt 26 and above, For CCW distances, add 0.3 mi to the miles from Pt 25 and below.

    This map update applies to all BTA map products. The changed Pt descriptions are below:

    CW CCW Pt Point Description
    46.7
    N    		 9.2
    E    		 25 SR 303 at Oviatt Rd (T183)
    Leaving SR 303, you will be entering the Richfield Heritage Preserve. The names of many sites will be given without detail. Visit www.friendsofrhp.org or www.richfieldheritatgepreserve.com. Jog N onto Oviatt Rd about 50'. Turn E onto mowed lawn, passing between sign for Richfield Heritage Preserve and a BTA post. After 150', you will be on a narrow partially dirt-covered asphalt path that continues E between creek and the Oviatt Farmhouse. Enter fenced property through gate; please latch gate after passing through. Continue on to the drive near a BTA post (100'). Follow the Blue Blazes on the drive ( Pr, PT nearby), to a view SE to Kirby's Mill with its overshot wheel, the top of the dam that restrains Kirby's patented lake, and the Kirby House. You will cross a concrete walkway over a stream that contains features that enabled the patent on Kirby's lower laker. After 0.35 mi at the Garfield Hall (the "bounce house"), exit the service road. Head N around the W side of the lodge.

    Continue generally N up the E side of ravine with interesting rock features. After crossing a wide utility corridor (0.4 mi), descend slightly to a creek confluence on the Sharon Conglomerate. Ascend slowly on footpath. After 0.19 mi, jog N on service road for 20'. Turn W onto footpath for 70’. Cross bridge over outflow from Lake Linnea (Upper Lake). Continue W on earthen dam. At W end of dam, turn N across emergency spillway. Soon enter woods and meander generally N along shore of Lake Linnea. After 0.4 mi at service road, jog E across bridge for 100'. At BTA post, turn N onto footpath and ascend. After 0.1 mi, reach a lawn area with several Adirondack shelters (Pr, PS, PT). Exit area from its SE corner past BTA post (60') onto mowed lane. After 200', turn S onto drive continuing past the Chagrin Cabin, the Coach House, the North House, and the Amity House w/ view of Lake Linnea.
    48.9
    S    		 7.0
    W    		 26 Trail at Lane to Boathouse Access Rd
    Turn S on lane through the forest. In 0.1 mi reach the Boathouse Access Rd where you will turn E for 45’ and cross the main N/S road (unnamed) in the preserve. The trail meanders through the woods, across a few streams and in 0.6 mi reaches the Preserve’s main E/W access road (also unnamed). Cross the access road and go E to exit the gate. After 0.1 mi at Broadview Rd (SR 176), turn NW and continue past large supermarket on W and Brush Rd (0.21 mi, exits E).
    49.8
    E    		 6.1
    SW    		 27 Broadview Rd (SR 176) at Alger Rd (C179)
    Continue with trail description on BTA map products from this point.


  • (9/1/24) Recently completed road construction on both sides of Medina Rd SR18 near the Lake Medina County Park included a new multi-purpose trail that now ensures a safe passage from Point 13 to Point 15. This new trail requires an update to the information in the 2017 Medina printed map and to the FarOut app. There is no difference in the length of the trail as the gist of the change is walking on the south side of Medina Rd (SR18) instead of the north side. The new information follows:


    • CW CCW Pt
    28.1
    E    		 27.7
    N    		 13 S Broadway at Champion Creek Trail
    Just across Champion Creek, leave the sidewalk and turn E onto the Champion Creek Trail. A trailhead w/P, Pr is located behind and just S of the house. Crossing Champion Creek twice, continue E on paved trail. The trail turns S near a substation. After 0.26 mi, reach Springbrook Dr and turn E on Champion Creek Trail. At the Entrance to Nichols Park (0.2 mi), enter Crestwood Park and meander generally E on the Champion Creek Trail. Exit the Champion Creek Trail at Guilford Blvd which you will cross using crosswalk. Turn NE uphill across tracks past Roscoe Ewing Park (P, Pr). After 0.3 mi, Guilford Rd ends. Follow the curving sidewalk to the right (E) and go E on E Washington St. The sidewalk transitions to the new multi-purpose trail. In another 0.3 mi reach the entrance to Medina Hospital.
    29.7
    E    		 26.1
    W    		 14 E Washington St at Woodland Dr and W entrance to Medina Hospital
    Continue E on E Washington St crossing second Medina Hospital entrance (0.1 mi). Soon E Washington St changes its name to Medina Rd (SR 18). Cross Foote Rd using crosswalk going E. Follow trail another 0.4 mi as it passes Waterford Dr (0.15 mi, exits R), entrances to a church, a business, and the drive to Summa Health.
    At the pedestrian crosswalk, turn left (N) to cross Medina Rd. Now on the N side of Medina Rd, turn right (E) to reach Lake Medina County Park. Enter the park and proceed through the parking area. (Note: From the pedestrian crosswalk and before crossing Medina Rd, there is a major grocery 0.34 mi further E on Medina Rd, on S side of street. The grocery complex contains a bank, a restaurant, and a hardware with a US Post Office.)
    30.7
    N    		 25.1
    S    		 15 NW End of Parking Area for S End of Medina Lake

  • (2/24/23) Polly Wheeler, Administrator Coordinator at Richfield Heritage Preserve, has confirmed that camping at the Preserve is once again available to Buckeye Trail through hikers.Follow this process to obtain the permit that is required to stay overnight at the Preserve, between Points 25 and 26. This location is listed on the map under "Camping Facilities." Use the link below to apply for the permit; complete this request form in advance of your stay.
    Permit request form .


  • (7/11/2021) Medina Trail Change
    This update announces a map change that affects your Medina map regardless of its date of publication although it relates specifically to the most recent version, January 2017. The segment affected lies between Pt 21 (State Rd (C44) Bridge over East Branch Rocky R) and Pt 22 (Top of the Ledges Picnic Area).
    The reason for the change is a reroute conducted by your Buckeye Trail Crew with direction from Ralph Protano, Trails Development Manager for Cleveland Metroparks. The reroute moved the route of the trail from lowlands along the Rocky R which remained chronically wet and also changed the route through Whipp’s Ledges themselves. The new route has reduced the distance between Pt 21 and 22 by 0.2 mi. Details are presented below.

    CW CCW Pt
    42.0
    N    		 13.6
    W    		 21 State Rd (C44) Bridge over East Branch Rocky River
    Continue N on APT along State Rd. After 300', shortly after where the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail exits W, turn E across State Rd and follow the drive toward Ledges Picnic Area. After 200', exit the drive onto the footpath at the base of steps; ascend E to a picnic area. After 0.11 mi, pass a BTA Interpretive Panel on lawn near the W end of the parking lot for Ledges Picnic Area. Join parking lot and head E. At the NE end of the parking lot near a picnic shelter, join a footpath that climbs NE on steps, crosses a service road that goes behind the picnic shelter, and continues NE. At the top of the steps (250’), turn N on footpath. The footpath will enter a field of boulders that have separated from the bedrock itself and are now sliding ever so slowly down slope. As the footpath climbs its way through these “sliders”, it turns gradually to the SE. And the boulders grow larger. After 0.1 mi, the footpath turns quite sharply N and ascends rather steeply into a slot between 2 massive rock walls, one of which is clearly the side of a slider while the other might be bedrock. Approaching the top of this slot, the footpath turns E and climbs to the rim of the ledges (300’). Here, the trail turns SE along the rim and you may look over more of these impressive cliffs from above. After 0.1 mi, turn N away from the ledges and ascend slowly.
    42.7
    E    		 12.9
    S    		 22 Top of the Ledges Picnic Area
    Return to the text in your Medina map dated January 2017. The new route is about 0.2 mi shorter between Pt 21 and 22. Deduct 0.2 mi from the values quoted in CW direction for points greater than 22. Similarly, deduct 0.2 mi from the values quoted in the CCW direction for points less than 21.
  • (11/3/2020) Medina Trail Change
    Medina County Park District (MCPD) has completed its improvements within their Lake Medina Park. The parking area at Pt 16 has been enlarged and a new restroom has been added. At both Pt 15 and 16, the parking areas have been freshly paved. In addition, some of the trails within Lake Medina Park have been paved also. Although we have revised the text a little, the distances printed in your current Medina Section Map remain unchanged.

    CW CCW Pt
    30.7
    N    		 25.6
    S    		 15 NW End of Parking Area for S End of Lake Medina
    Lake Medina was the source of water for the citizens of Medina until 2002. Water was pumped daily from the Rocky R into the impoundment. It is now a unit within MCPD. Go N on an improved trail across a bridge over the West Branch of Rocky R (400'). Ascend the levee to the trail with views of Lake Medina. Head N around the W side of the lake. After 0.8 mi above a concrete building (the former pump house), the confluence of the N Fork and the W Fork may be seen just W of your present location. Continue on the trail as it descends to the paved path at the foot of the levee and heads NE
    32.0
    NE    		 23.8
    SW    		 16 NW End of Parking Area at N End of Lake Medina
    Facility: P, Pr. Leave parking area NE on drive, etc.  

  • (9/8/19) Medina Trail Change
    At the request of the Friends of Findley State Park organization, the trail in Findley State Park has been moved onto the Wyandot Trail from the Hickory Grove Trail. This change does not make any significant change to the length of the trail. However, the front end of the text under Point 2, Medina Map Edition of March 2019, is totally changed.
    New Text under Point 2:
    Follow the Wyandot Trail E. After 0.45 mi at a 3-way intersection, join the Hickory Grove Trail heading NE. Shortly (0.16 mi) after the Wyandot Trail returns, exit the Hickory Grove Trail which turns N; go E. Soon, the Thorn Mountain Bike Trail joins the BT from the S and only after 0.3 to 0.4 mi does it exit N. After 0.45 mi at the edge of the park, join Hawley Rd; go S for 150 ft.


  • (8/4/19)Tom Barko has reported that a road name in BTA’s most recent Medina section official trail map, January 2017, is identified incorrectly. Although the road is named S Weymouth Rd in the text of the map, it is correctly named Old Weymouth Rd on the map itself.
    The error occurs four times in the text following Pt 17 and once in the heading of Pt 18. Please mark your current maps to correct this error.


  • (6/6/18)The Medina Section Map dated January 2017 requires a very slight modification because Cleveland Metroparks has built an All Purpose Trail essentially where a Bridle Path was located in the past. The trail distance has not been changed significantly. The changes are being made to the text written as part of Points 28 and 29.


    CW CCW Pt
    53.2
    E    		 2.6
    S    		 28 Barr Rd at CMP All Purpose Trail (APT) along Valley Parkway
    Near intersection, go E on paved APT that more or less parallels the S side of Valley Parkway within Brecksville Reservation, a unit of CMP, above I-77 (no access) and Highland Drive (0.7 mi).
    54.7
    E    		 1.1
    W    		 29 Bridle Path at Brecksville Rd (SR 21)
    Continue E on paved APT past a small parking area (300'). Return to the text as written in your Medina Section map.

Trail Towns

  • There are no Trailtowns in this Section at the present time.

Section Blog Posts

  • (5/21/23) Medina Section Blog - Provided by Victoria Livingston, BTA hiker. Join Victoria and her husband Dave as they join the Circuit hikers in the Medina Section. Follow their adventure here when they were left in the dust!.
  • (2/7/25) Medina Section Blog - Provided by Victoria Livingston. The Richfield Heritage Preserve was a highlight of the Buckeye Trail Points 22-30. It provided us with history, mansions, scenic views, and oddities! Discover the fascinating life and achievements of the inventor Jim Kirby. Read Victoria's post for Medina's Historic and Entertaining Trek: Richfield Heritage Preserve and More! from when she and husband Dave visited the Preserve..